Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-01
The Captured Confederate Flags.

ErfhiAoJN DAVE sbAIs DENIES "klIINt IRE DAN
WILLIE, ILL, LETTER.
The Baltimore S1t publishes the following letter
from Jefferson Davis:
"If tie object row be to unite the people OF the
North and South as brethren IN the Union as
q means 10 that cad every sign OF past conflict
should, as far rs practicable, be obliterated- TO
retain as point CT pride q flag captured in battle
by either the Union Confederate soldiers would
be equiv aient 20 renewed exultatiOn of triumph
by the on" or the other, and surely not Il step
toward the restoration OF peace. Flags captured
from a foreign enemy may be retained rs trophies
after peace, but here cessation OF hoStilites Is
not pretended 10 be the equivalent TO fraterniza-
ton. have heard OF various instances in which
Southern soldiers, having retained flags captured
in battle did, after the war, send them back TO
the organization from which they were captured,
and have heard OF no instance when such trophy
mas oeen displayed at a reunion OF Southern
soldiers 20 manifest their success in battle
over their Northern brethren. Our men
fought for principle, and that they have not
surrendered, but rather hOpeie5Sly lived 10 see
the good sense OF the Northern men revert
to the teachings OF their sres and re-estabsh the
government according to the Constitution on
which 1t was founded. That is the only victory
which would be TO them and their children thing
10 be priced and gorified. When the Confederate
government evacuated Richmond many flags cap
tured In battle were deposited In the Office In
Richmond. So far as know they were all LETT
there and found by the United States troops when
they entered he city. This would at least exhibit
proof or the fact that the South did not wish TO
treasure up such evidence OF any triumpns IL ever
had over the North. When Washington received
the surrender Of CORVALLIS at YORKTOWN he
qured the British cOors To be delivered to him in
cases The United states Government present ed
those flags TO Gen. Washington, and ne left them
TO George Washington Parkt GUSTS, by whom they
were entrusted To me when Was Secretary of
War, and lett in the war Office at Washington.
Though these were foreign flags, and signs OF a
very memorable occasion, the then United states
Government did not deem them OF sufficient I'm
pOrtance 10 be exhibited as trophies OF victory
over former enemy. but presented them TO the
soldier 10 whom they had been surrendered. The
"A 6t- re- n m
OF the flags lost in battle; their value departed
when they were surrendered, and the excitement
which has been created over the proposition re-
turn both TO the North and the South the flags
they had lost In battle seems very like a tempest
IN a teapot. Whether they should lie and be con-
Sumed by moth In boxes Oh Jhe United States
War o!tce or be returned TO their former owners,
has one element OF value, which Is that the
restoration would be "A declaration, such as the
old Romans made, that there should be no
triumph Tor a victory Won in civil war. so Tar as
IL should express the feeling OF restored rrater-
nifty, it would be an advance toward that condi-
ton which ali reasonable men Will recognize as
desirable among those who are to live together"